Study Questions:

1. How does Habakkuk’s vision describe the Babylonians? (Habakkuk 1:6-7)

2. What argument does Habakkuk raise to question the destruction of Judah by the Chaldeans? (Habakkuk 1:13)

Commentary and Reflection:

Habakkuk does not mention any king, but the content of his messages suggests that he wrote before Judah was taken captive to Babylon. His ministry occurred during a time of great apostasy, and commentators believe it took place toward the latter part of Josiah’s reign.

Habakkuk was a prophet with deep anguish in his soul and questions for God. His visions consist of a dialogue with Him. He did not understand and questioned why there was so much evil, why the Babylonians prospered, and why God allowed them to attack Judah. Judah had sinned, but the Chaldeans (Babylonians) had sinned even more.

Regarding chapters 1 and 2, I quote an explanatory narrative from the Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary that may be helpful:

“The book of Habakkuk provides a solution to the problem of why God permits sinners to flourish, comparable to the solution provided by the book of Job to the problem of why God permits saints to suffer (see Vol. III, p. 494). Habakkuk sincerely loved the Lord and earnestly longed for the triumph of righteousness, but he could not understand why God seemingly permitted the apostasy and crime of Judah to go unchecked and unpunished (Hab. 1:1–4; cf. Jer. 12:1). God informs him that He has a plan for checking and punishing Judah for its evil ways, and that the Chaldeans are to be the instrument by which He will accomplish this plan (Hab. 1:5–11; see pp. 31, 32; cf. Isa. 10:5–16).

This explanation gives rise to another problem in Habakkuk’s mind—How can God use a nation more wicked than Judah to punish Judah? How can such a plan be reconciled with divine justice (ch. 1:12–17)?” SDABC, Introduction to Habakkuk, Theme

Let us note the Lord’s beautiful words of encouragement to the prophet, which also apply to us: “Then the Lord answered me and said: ‘Write the vision and make it plain on tablets, that he may run who reads it. For the vision is yet for an appointed time; but at the end it will speak, and it will not lie. Though it tarries, wait for it; because it will surely come, it will not tarry.’” (Habakkuk 2:2-3, NKJV)

In difficult times, it seems the fulfillment of prophecy is delayed and takes a long time. When this happens, God encourages us to wait. He has an appointed time, and His prophecy will be fulfilled without fail.

“The prophecy of Hab. 2:1–4 was a source of great encouragement and comfort to the early Advent believers, known as Millerites. When the Lord did not appear in the spring of 1844 as at first expected, the Millerites were thrown into deep perplexity. It was shortly after the initial disappointment that they saw special significance in the words of the prophet, “The vision is yet for an appointed time, but at the end it shall speak, and not lie: though it tarry, wait for it.” They rested “upon the language of prophet” (1T 52) and went forth to proclaim the midnight cry, “Behold, the bridegroom cometh; go ye out to meet him” (Matt. 25:6; see GC 392).” (Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary, Habakkuk 2:3)

One of the most well-known verses among children, youth, and church members is surely Habakkuk 2:20: “But the Lord is in His holy temple. Let all the earth keep silence before Him.”

The true meaning of this declaration is that the Lord cannot be compared to idols, which have no consciousness, cannot understand, and cannot respond. But the Lord lives and is in His holy temple and heavenly sanctuary. All nations—Babylon, Egypt, Assyria, Russia, China, the United States, the rich, and the powerful—should be silent before Him with reverence and respect.

May God grant you a very blessed day with your loved ones.